What's on your mind now?

[oxy60]

Speaking of walking and jogging and pulse yesterday I decided to estimate my maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) using the Rockport Fitness Walking test:
https://www.brianmac.co.uk/rockport.htm

I read about it in my bio textbook and thought it would be fun. Plus I needed to reassure myself that I had some endurance...
(I am such a bio nerd. )

And if you really want to monitor your blood/02, there are meters you can buy for personal use. I saw one yesterday at "CVS" Pharmacy. You probably know this already but for the non nerds it gives an insight into the lung function.

And Littletune, do you hold a record as the largest baby, for the hospital, for the village, for the country? A former catcher for the LA Dodgers held the US record for several years.

[ongaku_oniko]

Oxygen advice from oxy


hmm.. my heart rate is 120 while resting O_O Something to be concerned about...

Haven't done ANY exercise at all the past 3 years, but started going to the gym for a month now.

I used to do a lot of swimming, like A LOT, so even though my heart rate is so fast and my body is so not in shape right now, I can still intake a lot of oxygen; or maybe I can just use it optimally; I can stay under water for just over 2 minutes, or swim for about 35-40 meters underwater without taking a breath.

[littletune]

I don't know that anyone doubted you!  But, this happens!  In fact, I was not making up that I was becoming an Auntie again yesterday!  My brother and his wife had a little girl on August 21st .  Their daughter was a few weeks early, too!  I just think it's funny because -I think- I remember that your Mom's birthday is right near mine (April 23rd), and your birthday is the day before my sister's, and now my new little niece was born the day before your original due date!  Of course, due dates are almost never exactly right .

Happy birthday to your newly born niece!  And yes my mum's birthday is April 25th!  I think we're all conected somehow!      Oh and if I was born a little more than 2 hours later my birthday would be August 12 too! 

Err...

Happy what-was-supposed-to-be-your-birthday, littletune! (Since it's probably too late for a belated happy birthday)

Thank you very much! It's really great to have a supposed-to-be birthday!!   

And Littletune, do you hold a record as the largest baby, for the hospital, for the village, for the country? A former catcher for the LA Dodgers held the US record for several years.

No I don't think I was that big... and I live in the largest city of our country so there are really a lot of babies born... they just said I was a very big baby specially because my mum is very small. So I was too big for her... I was 54, almost 55 cm, but I wasn't very heavy for my height (I think a little less than 4 kg)... but I don't know how much is that in inches and pounds... maybe I can check that on my calculator later. 

[pianowolfi]

m1469! Congratulations to your auntship!! I imagine the baby Just today I saw a very very tiny baby, perhaps only a few weeks old, at the mall, and I am always astonished how small and tender they are

[m1469]

m1469! Congratulations to your auntship!! I imagine the baby Just today I saw a very very tiny baby, perhaps only a few weeks old, at the mall, and I am always astonished how small and tender they are

Thanks, Wolfi!  Yeah, I really like being an Aunt .  It's a fun way to enjoy kids!  You are right, they are some small people ... hee hee... though, I'm not sure that every mother would say this, at least not in the middle of childbirth!

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I don't know that anyone doubted you!  But, this happens!  In fact, I was not making up that I was becoming an Auntie again yesterday!  My brother and his wife had a little girl on August 21st .  Their daughter was a few weeks early, too!  I just think it's funny because -I think- I remember that your Mom's birthday is right near mine (April 23rd), and your birthday is the day before my sister's, and now my new little niece was born the day before your original due date!  Of course, due dates are almost never exactly right .

Congrats on becoming an aunt!

I was born a few weeks early too. I was tiny when I was born (under average length and weight) but no one would guess than now! Now each time I go to the doctors she tells me my height is off the charts.  

No one in my family was born in the summer. It's weird, because most of my friends have birthdays in the summer.


There's been a lot on my mind lately. Going back to school ( ), piano worries (I still have a lot of work to do before my exam), and planning my future (aka researching universities for hours only to get more and more confused).
The only happy thing on my mind:  planning my vacation in 2 days (4 days of hiking, sailing, kayaking, and beaches, what could be better!?)

[littletune]

Why is it sooo late again?!  Where does all the time go?? I think someone is stealling it from me!!    And why am I remembering vacation all the time today? I just start thinking about it. I mean I don't want to it just appears in my mind! And I miss it sooo much! Ohhh well!

[Bob]

Time does seem to be flying.

[pianowolfi]

Time does seem to be flying.

Indeed it seems so.

[littletune]

Well I should start thinking about school  I guess I am already thinking about it... well school starts Spetember 1st but because that's Thursday we (at my school and also at my music school) won't start till September 5th on Monday. So I actually still have a whole week of holidays... but my mum said we should go to my school to talk about some things and ask about some things on Thursday anyway...  Well I guess that's not such a horrible thing I would just rather have this whole week completely without school.... but well that hour or something can't be that bad I guess 

[elspeth]

Freedom. It's a scary thing. So much responsibility comes with it. Am I ready for it?

I'd better be.

[pianowolfi]

Freedom is a sacred thing. So much happiness comes with it, if you dare to send the fear away. Perhaps you are ready for it as soon as it doesn't scare you anymore?

[oxy60]

Maybe freedom (the concept) won't seem so scary if you think about how your life would change and what you would do different if you had/get that freedom.

On an anniversary of of the liberation in Europe a survey was taken about what freedom meant and almost nobody could say what exactly has changed in their lives.

After the dancing in the streets, then what?

[m1469]

I'm thinking about the strangeness of the concept of "critics".  It's ... weird, even informally, like the inner critic.  phwew .... critic, critic ... it's even a weird word, isn't it?  Critic.  Critic.

hmmm...

[littletune]

I found out that my music school has moved! Not very far, but I'm sad because I won't see the doggie anymore    I mean I could go sometimes there anyway but I guess not twice a week and I probably won't be able to go inside  ... I mean otherwise I guess it's good for the school cause it will probably be a bigger place but I am sad because of the doggie!!

[m1469]

haha ... I have just received my very official-looking emergency teaching license from the state.  It's a grand looking certificate, but through the fancy Italics clearly reads: "emergency teaching license" ... I'm thinking about framing it and hanging it on my wall to show my achievement and validity .

[oxy60]

Congratulations! That is no small achievement!

I don't quite understand the emergency part.

[m1469]

I don't quite understand the emergency part.

Well,  , emergency is code for "Has completed some important steps (at least we know she is not a criminal), but has not actually completed everything necessary for the regular certificate, and must offically-seeming be inside the classroom before the other stuff will officially get done." and then, imagine even smaller writing between those imaginary lines that reads: and has also paid the appropriate fees and has had the official OK's from the right people.

[m1469]

Well,  , emergency is code for "Has completed some important steps (at least we know she is not a criminal), but has not actually completed everything necessary for the regular certificate, and must offically-seeming be inside the classroom before the other stuff will officially get done." and then, imagine even smaller writing between those imaginary lines that reads: and has also paid the appropriate fees and has had the official OK's from the right people.

Oh, oh... I forgot the "PS" which is there, but invisible:  

"PS - And, believe us -the State- she better get her bottom in gear and finish that other stuff (the civil rights test) soon, and I mean SOON, because this sucker's a ticking time-bomb and is going to expire towards the end of November!  And then what'chya gonna do?  Hmmm?  Yeah, that's right.  We win."

And, the state says that wearing a suit and tie, shaking their broad shoulders back and forth and all puffed up, and with raised eyebrows and a wrinkled up forehead, and these piercing eyes and stern tone of voice.  And, with one finger pointing... 

[goldentone]

Oh, oh... I forgot the "PS" which is there, but invisible:  

"PS - And, believe us -the State- she better get her bottom in gear and finish that other stuff (the civil rights test) soon, and I mean SOON, because this sucker's a ticking time-bomb and is going to expire towards the end of November!  And then what'chya gonna do?  Hmmm?  Yeah, that's right.  We win."

And, the state says that wearing a suit and tie, shaking their broad shoulders back and forth and all puffed up, and with raised eyebrows and a wrinkled up forehead, and these piercing eyes and stern tone of voice.  And, with one finger pointing... 

Hmmm.   Just remain calm and get your bottom in gear whilst doing so.

[m1469]

Hmmm.  Just remain calm and get your bottom in gear whilst doing so.

Ok .  Yeah, remaining calm is a biggie, here, as tests, and especially "exams" are not something I have typically felt very good about (AT ALL).  That has been one of my very big struggles with school.  There are reasons I can trace, but those are all not important now!  Because, I have an opportunity to exercise a new kind of confidence, even about this!  My test is on Sept. 15th and, fighting my inner feelings, I'm going to go ahead and blow it a kiss, from here:  

[pianowolfi]

m1469 that's peanuts for you!

*keeps thumbs crossed"

[littletune]

Hi m1469! Good luck with exam!! 

(Oh people who have Compound time link in their signature rule!!!      )

[point of grace]

people is so unfair...

[m1469]

Pretty soon I want to give my little violin debut here.  I am nearly going to graduate myself from my first book, and I will prepare some scales, arpeggios, and a small selections from my book (and maybe something else).  Yippppeeeee 

[pianowolfi]

Pretty soon I want to give my little violin debut here.  I am nearly going to graduate myself from my first book, and I will prepare some scales, arpeggios, and a small selections from my book (and maybe something else).  Yippppeeeee 

smile Yesss!

[littletune]

Pretty soon I want to give my little violin debut here.  I am nearly going to graduate myself from my first book, and I will prepare some scales, arpeggios, and a small selections from my book (and maybe something else).  Yippppeeeee 

Cool!  I can't wait!! 

[Bob]

Procrastination.

[littletune]

Oh this week has been difficult! I hope I'll have a little more time tomorrow! And I'm scared cause my doggy has to have surgery next week!   
But today I had my first piano lesson after the summer holidays and it was great!

[Bob]

https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c69_1315767872

Cows love jazz.

[littletune]

https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c69_1315767872

Cows love jazz.

Oh how cool!  The cows are sooo cute and smart!!! 

[Bob]

*Bob becomes suspicious about exactly where "jazz apples" come from.*

[oxy60]

Oh how cool!  The cows are sooo cute and smart!!! 

Cows love all types of music as long as you change it every month or so. My friend had a dairy and he would change the music when the milk production fell off.

I wanted to do a paper on this with supporting studies but my faculty adviser thought it would be too rural for our cosmopolitan college!   

[pianowolfi]

Unfortunately I had no instrument ready for these cute youngsters.

[littletune]

That is really sooo cute Wolfi!  

[pianowolfi]

I wonder what will happen If I ever go back to a certain place which meant so much to me in the past. Perhaps I'll feel like disappearing alltogether? Or like being more real, more present?
I feel a profound mumble, in the depths of my guts, that it might soon be time...soon as in "within the next months"...
But my guts might be wrong....
Anyway, If I go there, I need to be carefully prepared

I love to re-visit places where I have been long ago

[krystellle]

I hope that tag in Bessie's ear doesn't mean she's marked for food. 

[pianowolfi]

I hope that tag in Bessie's ear doesn't mean she's marked for food.  

I don't know, I'm not familiar with these codes   But it's good to know that her/his name is Bessie Perhaps I'll meet her/him again this fall

[littletune]

I hope that tag in Bessie's ear doesn't mean she's marked for food. 

I better not even think about it!!!!   

[m1469]

I better not even think about it!!!!    

How do all y'all think/feel about huge, beautiful, old trees in the natural forest that are marked for logging?

[littletune]

How do all y'all think/feel about huge, beautiful, old trees in the natural forest that are marked for logging?

Sad    Me and my friend where trying to save some trees once.

[m1469]

Sad   Me and my friend where trying to save some trees once.

I'm not exactly a "tree hugger," and I don't have a definite stance that we shouldn't ever use wood, etc., but I do feel there needs to be smarter ways of dealing with all of it - including animals.  But, even with animals, I'm not quite ready to say nobody should eat meat (even though I often have an involuntarily hard time with it - yet, I still eat it).

But, once I went into an old-growth, famous forest with my boyfriend at the time, whose dad was/is working for a *major* logging company.  It was a strange experience.  I am the type of person who feels like the trees and forests are living and as though I can actually feel that life (not just the animals within the forest) and as though the trees even have a kind of communication with each other and with us.  These ones actually seemed wise to me.  Let's just say that my boyfriend and I had very different experiences there  .

[oxy60]

I'm not exactly a "tree hugger," and I don't have a definite stance that we shouldn't ever use wood, etc., but I do feel there needs to be smarter ways of dealing with all of it - including animals.  But, even with animals, I'm not quite ready to say nobody should eat meat (even though I often have an involuntarily hard time with it - yet, I still eat it).

But, once I went into an old-growth, famous forest with my boyfriend at the time, whose dad was/is working for a *major* logging company.  It was a strange experience.  I am the type of person who feels like the trees and forests are living and as though I can actually feel that life (not just the animals within the forest) and as though the trees even have a kind of communication with each other and with us.  These ones actually seemed wise to me.  Let's just say that my boyfriend and I had very different experiences there  .

Maybe you folks haven't visited renewable forests being operated by the major lumber companies. They are a success. No wild fires, animals are being protected and we have all the lumber we need.

Now I would like to see some of it in the lumber yards. All I see is (***??) from China. It's never what they say it is. The stuff is only cheap. In reality I wonder where that wood is being cut.

The problem with a "save the tree" movement is that those people never take into account that if a forest becomes too dense then when a wild fire starts the entire habitat is ruined. Proper forest management keeps the trees far enough apart so a fire has no chance of becoming larger. Lighting will strike. Let's keep the damage to just the tree that was hit.

[krystellle]

I am the type of person who feels like the trees and forests are living and as though I can actually feel that life (not just the animals within the forest) and as though the trees even have a kind of communication with each other and with us.  

You and me both.  Did you know that trees have an aura, similar to ours?

[pianowolfi]

I love the redwood trees!

[krystellle]

Was that in California?

[pianowolfi]

Yes, near Leggett/Standish Hickey. I love it!



The whole atmosphere in this forest feels like "a temple of nature" and if you're sensitive you feel like entering a sacred place

[pianowolfi]

Btw as far as I know I was a very passionate "tree hugger" as a little child. I don't really even remember that time, but fortunately I remember distinctly what my mom told me about it. I was very little, like 2 years old or so, maybe 3 years, and I'd always hug the trees when we went for a walk, and tell them how much I love them.

(Of course that tree in the picture above might be a real challenge, hugging-wise . But I have touched him and that makes me happy )

[krystellle]

I'm with you all the way!!!   

[pianowolfi]

I think if we really respect nature (like the old Indians did), respect her deeply, and take only what we really need, need even in the broadest sense (because nature itself is abundantly generous towards us!), if we don't abuse our power, there's nothing wrong about it at all.